Manage disaster waste properly at quake areas – Bomba

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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) is urging the relevant quarters, including disaster management committees, to manage disaster waste in areas affected by the Ranau earthquake.

Sabah Bomba director Nordin Pauzi said that disaster waste had to be well managed to prevent mud floods during the monsoon season.

He said the initial stage of disaster waste management had been carried out to remove logs and other debris from dams, thereby restoring river flow.

Nordin said the earthquake had caused rivers to become shallow and slow down the flow of water due to debris from landslides, structures and trees. However, he said heavy rainfall would cause water to overflow to nearby villages and cause mud floods.

“Restoration efforts may take a long time if disaster waste is not well managed,”he said, when asked about mud floods in several areas around Kota Belud and Ranau on Monday, after presenting prizes for a colouring contest organized by Bomba here yesterday.

On flood preparations, Nordin said Bomba had focused equally on measures before, during and after disasters, including flood and forest fire.

Before disaster strikes, Nordin said Bomba would update its standard operating procedures (SOP), evaluate flood-prone areas, as well as strengthen cooperation with relevant quarters such as the Social Services Department, village chiefs and local leaders so that they can act when early warning system is issued, as well as to ensure evacuation process did not happen during a disaster.

He said the early warning system allowed village chiefs and local leaders sufficient time to act before disaster occurred.

“We gather information from the Department of Drainage and Irrigation, Meteorological Department, water level and tides, and issue verbal warning to village chiefs and local leaders so they can take early measures.”

He said the Bomba is well prepared for floods, adding that the department has logistics equipment while carrying out operations in floods which has become a routine for firefighters.